Looking out for the Tiniest Patients

If your friend had a baby with a serious health problem, you would do whatever you could to help. What if you could recruit your colleagues and the company you work for to help too? Integrated Project Management Company Inc. Director Drew Hazlett has been given the chance to do just that.

As part of the quarterly Integrated Project Mercy philanthropic program, Chicago IPMers will support Little Heroes League, a charity founded by the family of a little girl—the daughter of a friend of Hazlett—who was born with multiple health issues. Despite the good fortune of having financial resources and the ability to work away from the office, the parents struggled to manage the insurance paperwork and medical treatments.

Care coordinators of Little Heroes League work within Lurie Children’s Hospital to educate parents on what to expect, deal with insurance companies, and coordinate treatment plans and appointments. For instance, if multiple blood tests are ordered by numerous doctors, the care coordinator will plan accordingly so only one draw is needed. Or if a child needs to see multiple doctors or specialists, the care coordinator will schedule the appointments on the same day.

“Little Heroes League allows parents to focus on their kids, and to maximize their kids’ time outside the hospital,” Hazlett says, adding that it’s like a “concierge service” for parents. His wife, Caitlin, sits on the Little Heroes League Board.

While supporting Little Heroes League is the focus of the Chicago office, other IPM branches won’t be left out of the Project Mercy activities. They’ll support local nonprofit organizations who protect the tiniest patients, from riding in a bicycle race that funds pediatric cancer care and research at Boston Children’s Hospital to assembling welcome packages of sweatshirts, treats, and cards for those staying at Family House, a temporary home for the families of children being treated at the University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital.

Each quarter, one of IPM’s seven offices takes the lead on the Project Mercy effort, selecting a charity or cause to support. The project is often meaningful to employees who want to give back to the community, but it is even more important when there is a personal connection.

“I really value and prioritize Project Mercy,” Hazlett says. “It’s bottom-up efforts like this, issues close to our people. No matter what we’re doing, there’s an impact on those we help and the people in our organization.”